Whips on the way out as racing goes with carrot rather than stick

By Deputy Chief EditorDecember 28, 2018

193 3 minutes read

Modern day whips have more bark than bite, according to Goulburn horseman Danny Williams, but further modification towards only hands and heels riding is on the way.

The situation is becoming so delicate that the four-letter word starting with "w" is becoming a no-no, with synonyms like shillelagh, stick and even persuader replaced by "crop" in a public relations exercise comparable with dropping "plonk" for wine or vino.

Strike: Jockey Greg Ryan rides Moobi to victory at Warwick Farm, but did so with extensive use of the whip.Credit:AAP

Perhaps Williams was the victim of crop abuse when his charge Hemmerle was downed in a short-head finish in the Highway at Warwick Farm last Saturday.

Rival jockey Greg Ryan clouted Moobi nine times before the 100 metres, breaching the strike rule by four. After the 100 metres, considerable slather and whack accepted by officialdom came into play. Ryan was found guilty of a rule breach, suspended and fined $500.

Stewards considered a protest but didnt figure the Ryan strikes constituted a short head. During the hearing Ryan gave the impression that had he "thrown the reins" and not the crop at his mount the result wouldnt have been as satisfactory for Moobi punters.

Racing NSW stewards reckoned Moobi "had not gained an advantage", a point supported by Williams.

"The whips make a sound like slapping with a newspaper but dont have anything like the power of the old ones," he commented.

Mark Van Gestel, the NSWs chief turf racing law enforcer, conceded later that if there was a nose difference a protest could be upheld on crop grounds, but his body language said a ball and chain would have to be applied before he would take such a drastic step.

However, the restriction to seven strikes overall, similar to the United Kingdom, being put forward by the NSW Trainers Association and supported by Chris Waller, is a step towards whip-free racing, which had a successful one event trial in South Africa last November.

It was prompted by Arnold Hyde, of the National Horse Racing Authority, because "the use of the whip seemed to be a definite impediment when it comes to why people dont want to get involved in horse racing".

Regarding the innovation, the world renowned South African trainer Mike De Kock told Racing Post: "This was a good initiative … Jockeys are better off without sticks – more of them get beaten with them than they would without them."

Waller stressed that the public perception of animal welfare was vital for the industry, and Championship Horse Racing, a new ploy in the UK, will race on less crop power.

It will be made up of 12 teams, sponsored by a major brand. Each will have 40 horses of higher handicap levels and four jockeys. The races will be worth £100,000 ($179,570) and the 48 events will be run on tracks throughout the UK next year.

Jockeys will carry crops but will not be allowed to raise them to strike the mount. They can only be applied on the neck for control purposes.

CHRs Jeremy Wray believed he wouldnt land a major sponsor if traditional encouragement rules were allowed.

So the style of Mick Dittman, who left his mark more on bookmakers than horses, and Darren Beadman remain superb memories, like The Man From Snowy River , who breached so many RSPCA rules that he would have landed in Goulburn goal these days with only Danny Williams being a regular visitor.

In a tribute to John Marshall, who was as good on ground level as in the saddle, John Schreck, the chief stipe who sheriffed racings great, grotesque and corrupt, decreed: "John Marshall was obviously a very successful jockey but much more importantly he was a good citizen. I am pretty sure he was never suspended. I often said to young riders he was able to be a leading rider in Sydney when there were plenty of great riders about and he always rode within the rules. Jack Purtell and Andy Tindall were just a couple of others who were never suspended and both retired to become stipendiary stewards. John Marshall was too clever for that. He also rode in Hong Kong through some difficult years and left there with a clean sheet, too."